Shirt and collar protector



5. LIGHTER SHIRT AND COLLAR PROTECTOR June 11, 1940.

Filed Aug. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' June 11, 1940. s. LIGHTER SHIRT ANDCOLLAR PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jfiiorize yPatented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES PATE T- OFFICE i 2.204.419 sum! isCOLLAR rim-moron Stephen fighter, cum, n1. ApplicationAIglllt 5, 1935,Serial No. 34,749

11 Claims. (01. 229-87) The invention relates to a shirt and collarprotector for a shirt or similar article,-'and particularly for afreshly laundered shirt, either with or without an attached collar.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive shirtand collar, protector of ample size to completely cover and protect afreshly laundered shirt of any size and particularly to cover andprotect the collar and front s'oiled clothes or other soiled objects andfrom dust and dirt while in the drawer of a dresser or other place,before being used.

A further object of the invention is to provide the user to have a shirtand collar which is presentable, neat, uncrushed, unwrinkled and notmussed, and which improves the user's appearance, as distinguished froma shirt and collar which has been crushed, wrinkled and spoiled inhandling, in a dresser drawer, suit case or other place, to such anextent that *it cannot be worn and must be returned to the laundry, thuscausing considerable annoyance and needless trouble and expense.

It is a further object of the invention to form a shirt and collarprotector so that it will have two convenient abutting tabs with curvedor It is afurther object of the invention to pro- 35 vide a shirt andcollar protector having sideilaps attached to the main body portion ofthe shirt and collar protector to extend the whole length of the mainbody portiongof the shirt and collar protector and being 0,! Suflicientwidth and length and of proper formto extend completely around thefreshly laundered shirt and to overlap so that either one of the twoflaps or both ofv'the flaps may be fastened by a sticker, piece ofgummed paper, or other suitable means, to hold the shirt and collarprotector in position on the laundered shirt, being also held inposition by.

the collar tabs.

A collar brace of cardboard or relatively stiff and rigid material isinserted behind or in front of the freshly laundered shirt to assist inprotecting the starched collar and to prevent it from being broken 1down, crushed or wrinkled due to handling. The collar brace alsofaciliof the shirt from soiling due to contact with.

a shirt and collar protectorywhich will enable of the flaps or tabsinthe neck band and collar 1 tates the foldingof the collar tabs intoplace and also helps to keep the collar tabs in place after folding. I

After the shirt has been washed, starched and ironed, as stated, thecollar brace is inserted behind the front portion of the freshlylaundered collar, the shirt and collar protector is" placed intoposition over the front of the shirt, the two side flaps are foldedaround and behind the shirt and secured into place by'means of gummedtape, asticker, or other suitable means, and then the collar tabs arefolded into place, the collar brace assisting in securing and holdingthe tabs in placedue to its downward and outward pressure at the neckband back of the collar caused by being made of relatively stiff andrigid material and being curved or bent into place.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a shirt and collarprotector with a paper sticker or other suitable means at the inner endof a slit between the two abutting parabolic collar tabs to prevent theslit from being extended and causing the protector to be torn down intothe main body portion thereof due to handling of the shirt and exposinga portion or all of the front of the shirt and its collar.

A modified form of shirt and collar protector 'is shown and describedhaving a plurality of collar protecting tabs that will protect theentire collar, both front and rear, instead of only the front portion ofthe collar, bywforming a tab or irregular extension to onerof the sideor rearwardly foldingflaps of the main body portion so that the collartab extension can be folded over the. rear portion of thecollar whilethe front parabolic collar tabs attached to the main body portion of theshirt protector vcan be folded over the front portion of the collar,both the front and rearcollarrprotecting tabs being held and secured inplace dueto the downward and from being I The invention will be furtherunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating thepreferred form of protector and also the modified construction, but itwill be understood that further changes and embodiments or variationsmay be employed without departing from the scope; of the inventioncovered by the appended claims.

Figure l'is a front elevational view of a laun; dered' shirtlwith thecollar brace inserted into position behind'the front portion of thecollar."

Figure 21a aiplan 'view ofthe shirt protector of the invention showingin dotted lines the approximate folding lines of the side flaps and thecollar tabs.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the shirt protector in position on a shirtshowing in dotted lines how the parabolic collar tabs are folded intoposition under the collar and collar brace of the shirt and also showingthe side flaps in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a rear plan view of the laundered shirt with the shirtprotector in position showing how the side flaps overlap and how theyare secured in place with a piece of gummed tape.

brace as it is bent before insertion within the neck band and thecollar.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the shirt protector on the line 68 ofFigure 4 showing the overlap of the side flaps and the securing means.

Figure 7 isa view partly in elevatio and partly in section of the collartabs of the shi protector on the line 'l! of Figure 3, showing how thetabs are folded over and under the collar and collar brace and securedinto position by means of the pressure of the collar and collar brace.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form of the shirt protectorembodying the additional irregular collar flap or extension.

Figure 9 is a rear plan view of the modified form of protector showingthe overlapping side flaps secured into position behind the launderedshirt. t

Figure 10 is a front plan view of the shirt protector shown as it isfolded into position on a laundered shirt, and showing the side flaps indotted lines.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of the shirt protector on the linei|-l l of Figure 9 showing the overlap of the side flaps and thesecuring means.

Figure 12 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of thecollar protecting tabs, the collar and the collar brace on the line i2l2of Figure 10 showing how the two front tabs are folded and secured intoposition and how the rear collar portion protecting tab or extension isfolded into place and secured by pressure of the collar and collarbrace.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view on the line l3-l3 of Figures 2 and 8of the sticker that prevents the slit in between the two abutting frontcollar tabs from continuing down into the main body portion of the shirtprotector.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the various views of thedrawings.

Referring to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, the shirt protectorgenerally designated l5, which preferably may be of paper and of anydesired thickness or stiffness, is shown having a main central sectionit which generally extends over the front of the shirt which is to beprotected and which is shown at H. The shirt protector i5 is alsoprovided with the side protecting portions or flaps i8 and is which arefolded back against the rear of the laundered, folded shirt H.

The shirt protector also is provided with the two tabs or flaps 2i] and2| extending from the upper end of the central portion it. ;The two tabsare shown with parabolic forms or shapes, but they may be varied fromthat form if desired. The tabs and 2| are separated from each other butabut against each other thus form- Figure 5 is a perspective view of thecollar ing the slit 22. The slit 22 extends from the meeting point 23 ofthe two top or parabolic edges of the tabs 22 and 2| to the point 24 inthe central section ii of the shirt protector.

This point 24 is substantially at the vertical center line of thesection I and downwardly from the top junctures 25 and 26 of the centralsection of the shirt protector with the two side flaps l8 and IS. Theupper curved section edges 21 and 28 extend downwardly to imaginarylines 29 and 30 which converge at any desired or suitable angles andextend to the point 24.

It will be noted that the top portion of the protector as illustratedparticularly in Figure 2 shows a series of scallops or parabolas becauseof the curved top edges of the tabs 20 and 2| and the portions of thefront of the protector and the side flaps.

At the termination 24 of the slit 22, a sticker 3| of paper, cardboardor any strong, firm and suitable material is placed to prevent tearingof the protector l5 downwardly beyond the point 24. The location ofcasing or turning of the two side flaps i8 and i9 is indicated by thedotted lines 32 and 33 although actually there is no creasing.

Grooves, creases or scoring may be placed at these locations if desired,to facilitate turning of the flaps. The side edges of the flaps l8 andI9 are preferably curved as shown and when the side flaps i8 and I9 havebeen turned or bent at the imaginary lines 32 and 33 and foldedbackwardly against the shirt, the two flaps are held together by thesticker 34 or other suitable means.

A relatively stiif collar supporter or brace 35 made of cardboard orother suitable material is inserted and bent behind the neckband orfront portion of the collar of the shirt and behind or in front of theflaps or the tabs 20 and 2i to maintain the collar with its collar bandin its proper upright position when the shirt protector is being usedand which furnishes pressure against the collar and the collar tabs tohold them in proper position.

It will be understood that protecting stickers or reinforcements may beplaced on the shirt and collar protector wherever desired to strengthenand stiffen the protector and to prevent the protector from being torn.These will serve the same purpose as the sticker 29 or may reinforce andstrengthen the protector in other ways and may be of any suitable formand material. The reinforcements may be incorporated as an integral partof the collar protector.

When using the shirt protector of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to7, inclusive, of the drawings, the central section i6 is placed againstthe front of the shirt I1 and the front portion of the collar coveringboth sides of the collar.

The collar brace 35 is placed in position as shown on Figure 1. At thistime, the tabs 20 and 2| extend uprlghtly beyond the collar, and theflaps i8 and I9 extend laterally from the central section ii of theshirt. These flaps l8 and I! may have extensions of any preferred formfor furthe;1 wrapping, either at the top or bottom, or hot The flapsl8and I! are then folded and bent along the imaginary lines 32 and 33 andagainst each other so that they assume the position shown in Figure 4 ofthe drawings. The flaps i8 and I! are then caught and held by thesticker 34. Thereupon the two tabs 20 and 2i are each passed over thefront portions of the collar of the shirt and the collar brace 35 turneddownmussed condition and ready for immediate use wardly and tucked inunder the collar brace 38 and under the collar and against thegupperportion or bosom of the front of the shirt as indicated most clearly indrawings. I

It will be observed that when thetabs 2|! and 2| are folded inwardly anddownwardly over and under the brace 25'and the front portion or bosom ofthe shirt, theyfold naturally along the imaginary lines 28 and 38 fromthe ends of the down-.

wardly extending edges 21 and "to the point 24 in the protector sectionIt. Because of the slit 22 and the rounded or parabolic form of each ofthe tabs 2!, and 2|, they separate from their juxtaposed positions awayfrom each other and under the shirt portions as best shown in Figure 3of the drawings. I

It will be understood that the flaps l8 and I! of the-shirt protectorextending from the central section It may. be rectangular or have othershapes instead of having the curved shape as shown.

A modified form of construction of the shirt and collar protector isshown in Figures 8 to 13, inclusive. The construction of this shirt andcollar protector is identical with'that shown in Figures 1 to 7,inclusive, except as to the form of the side protector flaps 36 and 31.

The flap36 is rectangular although it might be of some other form. Theflap 31 has an irregular extension 38, extending laterally beyond theflap 3'! and vertically and upwardly beyond the top line of the centralprotector portion and the collar portion.

This irregular extension 38 is indicated by the lines 39, 48, 4| and 42forming the edges of the extension. The other parts of the shirt andcollar protector are identical with that shown in the other figures, theparabolic flaps 28 and 2| extending from the central portion I6 andbeing folded in identically the same manner as in the other form ofprotector as shown in Figures 1.

The purpose of the irregular extension 38 on the flap 31 is to cover therear portion of the collar of the shirt and also the rear inside portionof the shirt body. It is folded over the rear of the collar of the shirtand inwardly and downwardly against the rear portion of the shirt bodyand under the front portion of the collar brace 35 and the front portionof the collar and also underneath the folded tabs 28 and 2| as indicatedin Figure 10 of the drawings. This is also shown in Figure 12 of thedrawings.

It will be seen in the case of the modified construction of theprotector that the collar brace 35 not only exerts a pressure andbracing action downwardly and outwardly against the It will be seen thatthe bracing action of the collar brace is augmented in the case of themodified form of protector because of the added material of theirregular extension 38 beneath the shirt collar, the tabs 28 and 2|, andthe collar brace 35.

After the tabs 28 and 2| and the irregular extension 38 of the flap 31have been folded in and under, it will be seen that the entire collar ofthe shirt has been covered and protected against crushing, wrinkling,soil'and dirt of any description and the shirt can therefore 'bemoreeasily and quickly handled for distribution to the user and be kept ina. clean, undisturbed and un- Figures 3 and 'l of the when needed. a

As stated, the protector may-be of paper of any desired thickness orstiffness so that in addition to its protective features, it may serveto enable the shirts to be more readily handled and stacked in pileswherever desired without fear of soiling or crumpling the shirt orcollar. The completed package containing the shirt, not only may. bereadily handled, but it presents a neat and attractive appearance aswell.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A shirt and collar protector, said protector having a main bodyportion, said body portion having two parabolic tabs extending from thetop portion of said body portion, said tabs being separated by a singleslit, said slit commencing at the top of thebody portion and extendingdownwardlyinto said body portion on the central line thereof. j

2. A shirt and collar protector, said protector having a main bodyportion,'said body portion having two vertical parabolical tabsextending from the top portion of said body section, said tabs beingseparated by a slit, said slit extending downwardly into said bodysection on the central line thereof, the lower termination of said sliton said central line of said body section being at a point oftermination of two imaginary lines drawn at angles from the top edge ofsaid body section to enablesaid tabs to be 'point of termination of twoimaginary lines drawn at angles from the top edge of said body section,the outer edges of said tabs being curved -upwardly beyond thetermination of said slit parabolically and downwardly to points belowthe top edge of said body section forming two V-shaped-cutouts in thetop edge of the protector. a

4. A shirt and collar protector, said protector having a main bodyportion, said body portion having two vertical tabs extending from thetop v portion of said body section, said tabs being separated by a slit,said slit extending downwardly into said body section on the centralline thereof, the lower termination of. said slit on said central lineof said body section being at a point of termination of twoimaginary-lines drawn at angles from the top edge of said body section,the outer edges of said tabs being curved upwardly beyond thetermination of said slit parabolically and downwardly to points belowthe top edge of said body section forming two V-shaped cutouts in thetop edge of the protector, and a reinforcement attached to said bodysection'at the lower terminal of said slit to prevent said body sectionfrom being torn beyond said slit.

5. A shirt and collar protector, said protector being provided with apair of laterally extending flaps, one of said flaps having an irregularvertically extending body portion, the central body section ofsaidprotector having two additional vertically extending tabs, said lastmentioned tabs being adapted to -be turned inwardly and under the frontportion of the collar of the shirt 7 and said irregular extension beingadapted to be turned inwardly and over the back portion of said collar.

6. A shirt and collar protector, said protector being provided with apair of laterally extending flaps, one of said flaps having an integralirregular vertically extending body portion, the central body section ofsaid protector having two additional vertically extending tabs, saidlast mentioned tabs abutting each other and separated by a slit.

7. A shirt and collar protector, said protector being provided with apair of laterally extending flaps, one of said flaps having an integralirregular vertically extending body portion, the central body section ofsaid protector having two additional vertically extending tabs, saidlast mentioned tabs abutting each other and separated by a slit, thelower termination of said slit being on the central line of said bodysection at a point of termination of two imaginary lines drawn at anglesfrom the top edge of said body section to enable said tabs to be turnedand folded in diflerent directions.

8. A shirt and collar protector, said protector being provided with apair of laterally extending flaps, one of said flaps having an integralirregular vertically extending body portion, the central body section ofsaid protector having two additional vertically extending tabs. saidlast mentioned tabs abutting each other and separated by a slit, thelower termination of said slit being on the central line of said bodysection at a point of termination of two imaginary lines drawn at anglesfrom the top edge of said body section, the outer edges of said tabsbeing curved upwardly beyond the termination of said slit parabolicallyand downwardly to points below the top of said body section forming twoV-shaped cutouts in the top edge 01. the protector.

9. In combination, a shirt and collar protector and a relatively stillcollar brace, said protector being provided with a pair of laterallyextending flaps, one of said flaps having an irregular verticallyextending body portion, a central body section 01 said protector havingtwo additional vertically extending tabs, said collar brace being bentand placed against said collar, said last mentioned tabs being adaptedto be turned inwardly and under the front portion of the collar of theshirt, said irregular extension of said lateral flap being adapted to beturned inwardly and over the back portion of said collar, said pair oftabs and said irregular extension being held in place beneath the collaror the shirt by the downward and outward pressure and bracing action of7 said bent collar brace.

10. A shirt and collar protector, said protector having a main bodyportion, said body portion having two similar tabs extending from thetop portion or said body portion, said tabs being separated by a singleslit, said slit commencing at the top of the body portion and extendingdownwardly into said body portion on the central line thereof.

11. A shirt and collar protector, said protector having a main bodyportion, said body portion having two tabs extending from the topportion of said body portion, said tabs being separated by a singleslit, said 'slit commencing at the top of the body portion and extendingdownwardly into said body portion on the central line thereof.

S'IEPHEN LIGHTER.

